Stripping a Florida warehouse is an arduous task. But if the original finish is cracked, chipped, or peeling, removing it is the only way to achieve perfect results. Regardless of whether we talk about interior or exterior walls, proper wall preparation is one of the most important – yet often overlooked – phases of the painting process. Keep reading to find out why.

Stripping a Florida Warehouse: Answering the Big “Why” 

IMG_0549.jpgPreparing walls for painting is very difficult, especially in large buildings. However, the best practice is to remove the old paint completely and start afresh. Painting over an existing finish may accentuate the imperfections in walls from previous paint jobs, with a negative impact on the appearance of the facility, and lead to specific problems, such as:

  • Peeling – Applying paint over an unprepared or dirty surface will likely result in poor adhesion, which means the paint won’t stick to the surface. Furthermore, the peeling may involve all the coats, not just the topcoat.  
     
  • Blistering – When the paint doesn’t to stick to the wall properly, moisture or vaporized solvent from the paint may get trapped beneath the paint film, causing it to lift from the surface and form bubbles.  
     
  • Stains – Stains usually appear when the paint is applied over old stains, dirt, or mold. Though high-quality paints provide great coverage, some stains, dirt, and mold can bleed through the new paint.  

Stripping a Florida warehouse is paramount in the prevention of the aforementioned problems. Additionally, removing old, peeling paint from walls will ensure:

  • Smoother Surfaces – If you want a polished, professional finish, removing old paint isn’t enough. The painter should also smooth out all the imperfections before applying the primer and paint.
     
  • A Durable Application – Removing the old paint and washing the surface ensure that the primer and all the subsequent paint coats will stick to the walls properly. High-quality wall paint lasts for a long time only if it’s applied correctly to a clean, dry surface.
     
  • Great Colors – Mold and dirt can affect the paint over time, making the color appear dull within months. This means that you may need to repaint much sooner than you would like.

Warehouse Wall Preparation: Removing Old Paint

Before stripping a Florida warehouse, professional painters prepare the area by distributing the equipment throughout the warehouse, at least four feet away from the walls. After removing all the obstacles, they follow the next two steps to effectively strip paint off walls:

  1. Test the old paint. With a paint test kit, a painter can easily determine the type of paint previously used on the surface. If there is any lead-based paint on walls, the painter will need to handle lead-contaminated waste according to the EPA’s hazardous waste program (see also the Florida Department of Health and the Waste Management Division of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection).  
     
  2. Remove the old paint: If the test shows negative for lead, the painter will apply the correct type of stripper for the paint. After letting the stripper set for the recommended amount of time, the painter can easily remove the paint with a putty knife or scrapper.

For the best results, the painter will also have to sand off the remaining paint. Then, he needs to wash the walls to remove dust and dirt, let them dry completely, apply the primer, and finally, paint the warehouse walls.  

Hopefully, our post has answered your questions about stripping a Florida warehouse. For more information on the topic or to request an estimate, contact our team at Performance Painting in Jacksonville, Florida.

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